Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Sunday, June 7, 2026
Childress Speaks Publicly for First Time Since Kyle Busch’s Death at Michigan
Richard Childress stood at a Michigan International Speedway press conference podium Saturday beside an empty chair. Kyle Busch, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who died May 21 from severe pneumonia and sepsis, was supposed to be there. Childress revealed he and Busch had planned to announce a 2027 contract extension at Michigan with Chevrolet officials present. “We were going to announce that he was coming back in ’27,” Childress said, in his first public appearance since Busch’s passing. Austin Hill will drive the renumbered No. 33 for the remainder of the 2026 season. Childress pledged to keep the No. 8 available for Busch’s son Brexton.
Sources: RACER, Speedway Digest
Michigan Speeds Into Race Day with Lap 8 Tribute Planned for Kyle Busch
Michigan International Speedway planned a Lap 8 tribute for Kyle Busch ahead of Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400, including a moment of silence before the race and a No. 8 logo in the infield grass. Richard Childress Racing entered Austin Hill in the renumbered No. 33 for the weekend following Busch’s May 21 death from pneumonia and sepsis. Childress noted Busch had won three races for RCR in 2026 and was on the verge of making the Chase before his hospitalization. “He helped RCR when we needed it,” Childress said. “He came right in, and we won three races the first part of the year.”
Sources: Speedway Digest, NASCAR.com
Hamlin Earns 50th Career Cup Pole at Michigan But Car Damage Forces Rear Start
Denny Hamlin secured the 50th pole position of his NASCAR Cup Series career at Michigan International Speedway Saturday, edging Carson Hocevar by 0.018 seconds with a lap of 195.117 mph around the two-mile oval. Despite earning the top starting spot, Hamlin will begin Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 from the rear of the field. A flat left-rear tire in practice damaged the underside of his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, requiring repairs that NASCAR does not permit between qualifying and the race. Hamlin is the defending race winner at Michigan and arrives fresh off his victory at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Motorsport.com
Hocevar Agonizingly Close to Home-Track Pole, Will Lead FireKeepers 400 to Green Flag
Carson Hocevar came 0.018 seconds short of winning his home-track pole at Michigan, posting 195.022 mph in the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet before Denny Hamlin stole the top spot on the final run of qualifying. With Hamlin starting from the rear due to practice damage, Hocevar will effectively lead the 37-car field to the green flag for Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400. The Michigan native, who led 65 of 126 laps in Saturday’s Truck Series race before an overheating issue cost him the win, said his Cup car was among the best he has had at Michigan. Hocevar sits ninth in Cup points heading into the race.
Sources: RACER, Motorsport.com
Heim Edges Honeycutt by 0.065 Seconds in Thrilling Michigan Truck Victory
Corey Heim edged TRICON Garage teammate Kaden Honeycutt by 0.065 seconds at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, claiming his third Craftsman Truck Series win of 2026 in only five starts. Heim moved from third to first with 15 laps remaining, passing the day’s most dominant truck driven by Carson Hocevar, who led 65 of 126 laps before overheating hampered his car. “That was a lot of fun. I had a blast,” Heim said. The win is Heim’s first career victory at the two-mile Michigan high banks and his 26th overall. It arrived one week after Heim announced he will join 23XI Racing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for 2027.
Two Cup Teams Penalized After Double Inspection Failures at Michigan
Two Cup Series teams were penalized after failing pre-race technical inspection twice at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday. The No. 17 RFK Racing Ford driven by Chris Buescher and the No. 44 NY Racing Chevrolet driven by J.J. Yeley both failed on their first and second attempts before passing on the third. Both teams lost pit road selection for Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400, and car chiefs Joshua Sisko and Lee Leslie were ejected from the race weekend. The penalty is a notable setback for Buescher’s No. 17, which sits eighth in Cup Series points and inside the playoff bubble heading into a critical stretch of the regular season.
Sources: NASCAR.com
Four Flat Tires in Cup Practice at Michigan; Reddick Sets Fastest Lap
Tyler Reddick set the fastest lap in NASCAR Cup Series practice at Michigan at 192.622 mph Saturday, but the session was overshadowed by four drivers suffering flat tires. Denny Hamlin, Austin Cindric, and Erik Jones each lost a left-rear tire, while Christopher Bell had a flat left front. Hamlin’s flat caused practice damage requiring unapproved repairs, forcing him to start Sunday’s race from the rear despite winning the pole. Reddick said his Rockstar Energy Toyota felt strong and that the team plans to press its Michigan advantage. Chase Elliott was second in practice at 192.200 mph and Kyle Larson third at 191.403 mph.
Sources: RACER
Playoff Bubble at Razor’s Edge: Cindric Holds Final Spot by Two Points at Michigan
The NASCAR Cup Series playoff bubble is razor-thin heading into Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400, with Austin Cindric holding the 16th and final transfer spot by just two points over RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece. Preece would be inside the top 16 without the 25-point penalty assessed after his May 3 incident at Texas Motor Speedway, which was upheld on appeal. Joey Logano sits nine points outside the bubble in 18th place. Points leader Tyler Reddick holds a 97-point advantage over second-place Denny Hamlin after 14 of 26 regular-season races, with Michigan representing the midpoint of the regular season before the Chase begins.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Motorsport.com
Cup Series Standings (Top 16)
As of Race 14 (Nashville, May 31) — nascar.com
1. Tyler Reddick — 657 pts
2. Denny Hamlin — 560 pts
3. Ryan Blaney — 483 pts
4. Chase Elliott — 460 pts
5. Ty Gibbs — 449 pts
6. Kyle Larson — 409 pts
7. Christopher Bell — 399 pts
8. Chris Buescher — 393 pts
9. Carson Hocevar — 383 pts
10. Daniel Suarez — 378 pts
11. William Byron — 352 pts
12. Shane van Gisbergen — 348 pts
13. Brad Keselowski — 347 pts
14. Chase Briscoe — 343 pts
15. Bubba Wallace — 338 pts
16. Austin Cindric — 306 pts
Manufacturer Standings
As of Race 14 — nascar.com
1. Toyota
2. Chevrolet
3. Ford
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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